Radiant heater and tray



- Oct. 7, 1952 w. LA MIRAND 2,613,308

RADIANT HEATER AND TRAY Filed March 16, 195o 2 SHEETS-Smm 1 L i. INVENTOR. E M/fer a/iran lfm/fw,

array/vgl( Oct. 7, 1952 w. LA MIRAND RADIANT HEATER AND TRAY 2 SHEETS- SHEET Filed March 1e, 195o I Patented Oct. 7, 1952 Glassheati, Inc.,y Detroit,

of Michigan;

Mich., ar corporation ApplieaftgionMarjcni-s, 1950;;ser1ia1'Ndismpz;

wherein .tliewheatingi elementi' usedvc'onsists off ajglassplate-:with a continuous.meanderingrribbon'.

off metal alloy fusedi on .,onelside thereof-such Athat whenrthe-metallic; ribbon? is.v connected acrossaa source of? electricalA potential, infra-redf rays are emitted'gfrom th'efglass While Ir prefer tofuse thisvtypetof-heatingelement, otherftypes of f sheet-` likefheatingelementsr mayzbe.- used; suchasv rub ber; 'asbestos L with: `resistance 'wire K imbedded" Whileff devices of.:A the ltype;r hereindescribed'andi' claimed have appeared on themarket?priorito-` my;"iriyentiornV they. have all* beenfheavy; in'. con- Structifomzawkward: tohandleandcostly tov buildf easytcr-handlezev'enf.by` av child, and economical to construct. I y

For a preferred embodimentof-@my invention,

referenceisfmade to theffollowng kdescri1:tion;and

accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a'perspective view ofthe device showingit--in-normal position forY storage ork foruse asairadiantheater. I

1 g.: 2l is af horizontal section taken alongjthe lin"L 72 oflfigil. y'

-amvertical section-taken alongy the` line v 1 ,and l v Eigafi/{is'af perspective'fview of# the supllting stand `forthe tray, the latter# being shown in broken lines.

As can be seen from the figures, my combined tray and heater II) comprises a rectangular frame, preferably constructed of wood. The frame has end pieces II and side pieces I2 secured together in the form of a rectangle by any suitable fastening means, such as glue, screws or nails. Any type of solid, well-seasoned wood may be used, either solid or laminated, provided it is not too heavy and will not expand and contract unduly with temperature change.

The heating element I3 consists of a sheet of glass having ridges I4 formed on its rear surface. Between these ridges, a continuous meandering ribbon of metal alloy, preferably aluminum or silver alloy, is disposed. `This ribbon is preferably deposited on the glass by spraying while the alloy is in molten condition under such conditions that the alloy become fused to the glass. However, the specific construction of the heating elementforms no part of my invention and will not therefore be described in detail.

admins. (01.; mais); 7

"Ihef` ribbon is connected; by-'f soldering.` with;l a conductor I 6i Yw-hichv terminates in a socketf: positioned on `the voutside'offtray Yatfone endl (.li'g'; 3)f. A- iiexible--cord- Ibofconventional designr with plugs at eachend maybeusedtto connect? the` socket 'I.'I- to` ai source'm of' electrical current. Between-1 the heating!A` element I 3 and #the socket;

I'I; Il'prefer to connect'arheostatffor-adjusting;

theA voltage'- across the plate and consequently the; temperatureV thereof I This; rheostatfisupreferably; mounted in fonefor'the"end-members?I I-andffpro'l 'videdWit-h' a'ldial: knob =`ISliforfadiustingl and indie catingthe" degree of-heat- If-fpreferreda tapwtype or-n other type 'o fivoltageiregulatorfmay foe-utilizedT inplaceoffajrheostat v Ihefframe liscovered-on the fron-tf orf-top side* of tlief tray with a trim4 of-E decorative' material; p'referablyf'lplasticifA plasticY trimisffin thea form of fiat strips 20and the stripsare-fastened tothe-Wood frame by-mea-ns offscrewsZlI-, f

The glass; pla-t'ef I3\f is'mountedi flushf with the front "surfaceofi thejetray, and is reta-ined inf-posi'f: tion byfa vsimplemountingmeans;A vThis fmean's comprises nailing-strips- 22 which support; the

f f plateatfitsrearfma-rginaledge and`mold-ings 23 which overli theu top or; frontl marginal edge4` thereof As, can be;l seeny fromA` theA drawing1 the molding 2:3i's`lofmetal, chrome-f-platedf'; painted'or anodized!y andis fastenedbywelding or" otherwise to' anglev section strips/24; The latterareinserted betw'eenfuie edge of; the'i plate andv they frame: at; eachofith'effour sides andareprovidediwith'fholes-j through which the; nail'sorr screwslioldin g;theF strips 22 may pass;v y

The strips 22 may be of wood or heat insulating material or of refractory material. Preferably a spacer strip 25 of ysimilar material is provided at the ends of the tray adjacent the frame members II, but this is not absolutely necessary. At the sides, a relatively thick spacer 26 .is provided if laminated wood is not used. f

It may be seen, therefore, that the glass sheet is securely retainedv in the frame by its engagement with the strips 22 at the bottom thereof and by the angle strips 2IIV which overlies the sheet` around its front marginal edge.

and making an extremely neat appearance.

The back of the tray is closed by a rectangular sheet 21 of any suitable material, such as wood. metal fibre, heavy paperboard or the like. A sheet of insulation 28 isdisposed on the inside'surface of the back 2'I and the laminated assembly thus v formed is fastened by nails or screws to the frame The decorative molding 23 overlies both the angle 24 and the.. trim 2|] thus concealinglthe joint at this point 3 members Il, l2 as shown in Fig. 1. Rubber feet 29 are carried by the back 2l on which the device rests when used in horizontal position as a warming tray.

The insulating layer 28 may be of any commercially obtainable type. I prefer to use a combination paper and metal foil lamination which has proven satisfactoryand effectively prevents the heat radiated-from the back of the glass plate from damaging the surface on which the tray may be placed. In addition, a metal foil backing refiects heat rays emitted from. the back-of the glass element and substantially increases the amount of heat radiated fromthefront surface vals in the frame for permitting circulation'of airbetvveen thesback of the plate I3 and the insulating sheet` 28. I have found that the construction described makes an extremely useful article for use as a buffet Warming or cooking tray; ,Because of the insulating and Ventilating means provided, the tray handles and outer molding. do not become `hoteven When the heating plate is operated at 200 Fahrenheit for extended periods of time. Y It is thus possible for the tray to be movedabout -for serving purposes and it may rest on a polished furniture surface without damagethereto. Y* 'Y My tray is also extremelyy useful when used asa portable. radiant heater, particularly ywhen used for therapeutic purposes, the infra-redirays emitted therefrom being benefieialtherefor.

To vfacilitate its useas a portable heater, I have provided a supporting rack 35. This rack may be constructed of any suitable material, the one shown being of polished aluminum.

It consists of -flatstrip stock, thepieces thereof being welded together to provide an inclined rest for the tray. The tray may rest on the rack on its side,.as illustrated,-or on one end. ,When used in this manner as a heater, it may be'placed on a tableor floor andthe heat rays will travel out.

Wardly and upwardly therefrom.

When used as a tray or heater, the temperature may be regulated by means of the dial knob I9 and when used as a tray, food may be kept warm by being placed thereon or may be cooked by suitably regulating the temperature. If desired, a hood (not shown) may be used on the tray to confine the heat for baking or warming.

' Itmai1 thus 'be seen-that I have provided an improved versatile household appliance which is of pleasing appearance, economical in construc- 'tion and light to handle.

While I have shown a specific embodiment of the device'for illustrative purposes, it will be ap- .parent to thoseskilled in the art that changes maybe made in the device specifically described without departing from the invention in its broader aspects as -set forth in the claims hereafter appended.

AI claim: y

1. In a heating device adapted for use as a Warnung tray and portable heater, a rectangular frame, a heating element of sheet form mounted insaid frame in substantially flushrelationship therewith, means retaining said element insaid framecomprising angle sections disposed along the sides of said element, one leg thereof overlapping the top marginal edge of said element and having a trimstrip secured thereto over-- lapping said leg and the adjacent frame portion,v

the other leg thereof extending alongand below the sides of the element, a securing strip disposed along the bottom marginal edge of the element adjacent said other leg, and common fastening means securing said strip and 2. The oombination'set forth in claiml l 4wherein the heating element consists ofia sheet of glassV with-a resistance grid carried' on one face thereof.

WALTER LA MIRAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following vreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Date 533,795 Edwards Feb. 5, 1895` 1,007,125 Madsen Oct. 31, 1911 1,584,281 Dumas s,, May 11, 1926 1,664,171 Hicks Mar. 27,;1928 1,680,768 Dalton Aug. 14, 1928 2,119,680 i Long June 7, 1938 2,495,788

'Irist Jan. -31, 1950 angle `sec- 

